Sri Lanka Itineraries 02

14-day Bird watching and Wildlife Tour

(Map shows the basic route)

Day 01: Leave for Kitulgala from a hotel near airport OR leave directly from the airport to Kitulgala on arrival. Visit Kitulgala rainforest.Looking for wet lowland forest birds including endemics and nocturnal birds. Also butterflies, forest mammals and other wildlife.
Overnight stay at a rest house / lodge in Kitulgala.

Day 02: Full day at kitulgala rainforest.
Looking for wet lowland forest birds including endemics and nocturnal birds. Also butterflies, forest mammals and other wildlife.
Overnight stay at a rest house / lodge in Kitulgala.

Day 03: Leave for Ratnapura OR Sinharaja rainforest.
Looking for wet open country and forest birds including some endemics and nocturnal birds. Also butterflies, some mammals and other wildlife.
OR in Sinharaja, looking for wet lowland forest birds including endemics and nocturnal birds. Also butterflies, forest mammals and other wildlife.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Ratnapura OR at a forest lodge in Sinharaja.

Day 04: Full day at Sinharaja rainforest.Looking for wet lowland forest birds including endemics and nocturnal birds. Also butterflies, forest mammals and other wildlife.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Ratnapura OR at a forest lodge in Sinharaja.

Day 05: Full day at Sinharaja rainforest OR visit an alternative rainforest if stay in Ratnapura.
Looking for wet lowland forest birds including endemics and nocturnal birds. Also butterflies, forest mammals and other wildlife.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Ratnapura OR at a forest lodge in Sinharaja.

Day 06: Leave for Embilipitiya. Visit Udawalawa National Park consisting grassland and forest in dry climatic conditions.
Looking for dry forest, open country and grassland birds including some endemics. Also butterflies, open country and forest mammals, and other wildlife.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Embilipitiya.

Day 07 : Leave for Tissamaharama (Tissa). Visit wetlands in and around Tissa.
Looking for waterbirds, dry open country and nocturnal birds including some endemics. Also butterflies, open country mammals and other wildlife.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Tissa.

Day 08: Visit Yala National Park consisting wetlands, grasslands, scrublands and forest in dry climatic conditions.
Looking for waterbirds, shorebirds, dry open country, forest and nocturnal birds including some endemics. Also butterflies, open country and forest mammals, and other wildlife.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Tissa.

Day 09: Visit Bundala National Park consisting wetlands, scrublands and forest in dry climatic conditions.Looking for waterbirds, shorebirds, coastal seabirds, dry open country, forest and nocturnal birds including some endemics. Also butterflies, open country and forest mammals, and other wildlife.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Tissa.

Day 10: Leave for Bibila, via tall dry forest of Ruhunu National Park. Visit Nilgala forest consists of Grassland and forest in dry climatic conditions.Looking for grassland, dry forest and nocturnal birds including some endemics. Also butterflies, forest mammals and other wildlife.
Overnight stay at a guest house in Bibila.

Day 11: Visit Nilgala forest and leave for Nuwara Eliya in the high hills.
Looking for grassland and dry forest birds including some endemics. Also butterflies, forest mammals and other wildlife.
In Nuwara Eliya, Looking for highland open country and forest birds including endemics. Also butterflies, highland forest mammals and other wildlife.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 12: Visit Horton Plains National Park consists of Grasslands and montane forest in higher cool climatic conditions.
Looking for highland open country and forest birds including endemics. Also butterflies, highland forest mammals and other wildlife.
Overnight at stay a hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 13: Leave for Kandy . Visit Botanic gardens.
Looking for wet lowland open country and forest birds including some endemics. Also butterflies, some mammals and other wildlife.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy .

Day 14: Visit patch of tall wet forest in Kandy and leave for Airport OR a beach resort.
Looking for wet lowland forest birds including some endemics. Also butterflies, forest mammals and other wildlife.

If the above itinerary is followed for birding during the migratory season the average number of species which can be seen is 240. Amongst this total, all 33 Sri Lanka endemics, about 42 species endemic to the rest of Indian subcontinent, 12 nocturnal birds and about 128 other Asian species are quite possible.

If the above itinerary is followed for mammal watching, with the addition of or replacement with other special sites, the average number of species possible is 30 including nocturnal mammals.

If the above itinerary is followed for butterfly watching, with the addition of or replacement with other special sites, the average number of species possible is 55.

If the above itinerary is followed for general wildlife watching, the average number of species possible in each animal group is 200 birds, 18 mammals, 30 butterflies, 15 reptiles and 8 amphibians, among other fauna.

» For more information on the animals which are possible to see on our tours see Birds to watch and Other wildlife tto watch.

Our Team

Members of Bird and Wildlife Team are acclaimed Sri Lankan birders, wildlife researchers and wildlife photographers, and authors on their subjects. The combination of their knowledge and field skills is the key to the high success of...